Golf club carrying device



Aug. 9, 1966 E. R. JARMAN GOLF CLUB CARRYING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 11, 1963 //vv/vr0/? EDWARD R. JARMAN BUCKHO/W, BLORE,KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS Aug. 1966 E. R. JARMAN 3,265,106

GOLF CLUB CARRYING DEVICE Filed March 11, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 vn-u MmlNl/E/VTGR B) EDWARD R. JARMAN BUG/(HORN, BLOHE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MANATTORNEYS Au 9, 1966 E. R. JARMAN\ 3,265,106

GOLF CLUB CARRYING DEVICE Filed March 11, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVE/VTUR B) EDWARD R JARMAN BUC/(HO/r/V, BLORE, KL/J/POU/ST 8 SPAR/(MANATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1966 E. R. JARMAN GOLF CLUB CARRYING DEVICE 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 11, 1963 R w W B) EDWARD R. JARMAN BUG/(HORN,BLORE; KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3365,1116GGLF CLUB CARRYING DEVECE Edward R. Jarinan, Portland, Greg, assignor toEdward R. Jarman, Roy W. Jarman, and Dean Harman, a partnership, doingbusiness as Jermain-Williamson Company, Portland, Greg.

Filed Mar. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 264,418 19 Ciainis. (61.. 1541-15) Thisinvention relates to a golf club carrying device, and more particularlyto a combined golf bag and cart.

In golf bags and combined golf carts and bags, it is desirable toseparate each club from the other clubs and ruggedness and compactnessalso are desirable as well as keeping the weight as low as possible andthe stability and maneuverability as high as possible. It is alsodesirable to provide for quick, easy insertion and removal of the clubsand to hold the clubs firmly in the bag so that rattling of the clubsand damage therefrom are avoided. Golf bags and combined golf bags andcarts known hitherto which have held the clubs firmly in separatedpositions have been heavy and bulky, while bags and combined bags andcarts which have been light in weight and easily maneuvered have notbeen rugged and i have not held the clubs firmly in separated positions.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a rugged,compact, lightweight golf club carrying device which firmly holds golfclubs in separated positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf club carryingdevice adapted to hold the golf clubs firmly in separated positions andto permit quick, easy insertion of the golf clubs thereinto and removaltherefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf bag adapted to gripfirmly a golf club inserted thereinto merely by dropping the club intothe bag.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined golf bag andcart which is quite low and compact.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a golf bag which veryeffectively protects the heads of golf clubs at all times.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined golf bagand cart in which wheels are movable between operating positionsprojecting rearwardly and downwardly from a frame to support the frameabove the ground and retracted positions in which the wheels liealongside the frame while projecting forwardly of the frame justsufiicieently to permit the bag and cart to be rolled along a floor orthe like in positioning the bag and cart in an automobile trunk or thelike.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a golf cart havingindividual spring suspensions of each wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined golf bag andcart which is strong, compact and light in weight while being simple andinexpensive to manufacture.

The invention provides a golf club holding device having holders firmlyholding the clubs in separated positions. In a preferred form of thedevice, three vertically spaced abutment members are provided with oneof the abutment members facing the other two and each in engagement witha golf club to firmly hold the club. In one holder, the lowest abutmentmember may be in the form of an inclined ramp serving to support thelower end of the club and move the club against the other two abutmentmembers as the club end slides down the ramp during insertion of theclub. The ramp preferably is the bottom of a pocket member covering theclub head. In another holder, the upper abutment member may be a hookfor holding the golf club against the two lower abutments. The golf clubholding device preferably includes a tubular frame with club supports orracks at ,7 3,265,196 Patented August 9, I966 the front and back of theframe and with wheels mounted on the sides of the frame betweenoperating positions extending below the frame and substantially beyondthe back of the frame and retracted positions raised above the bottom ofthe frame and lying along sides of the frame while projecting slightlybeyond the back of the frame to permit the wheels to be rolled on a flatsurface when the cart is laid on its back.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from thefollowing detailed description of a golf club carrying device formingone embodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with theappended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a golf club carrying device forming oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, substantially horizontal, sectional view takenalong line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational vie-w taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of thecombined golf bag and cart of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view taken along line7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 8-8of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, horizontal, sectional view taken along line 9-9of FIG. 6 with parts broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, horizontal, sectional view taken along line10-10 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, side, elevational view of the framework of thegolf club carrying device of FIG. 1 showing the construction of theframe;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, front, elev-ational view of the framework of thegolf club carrying device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view similar toFIG. 12 but with the wheels retracted;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken along line 16-16of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view takenalong line 17-17 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken along line 18-18of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged, fragmenary, vertical, sectional view taken alongline 19-19 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional View taken along line 20-20of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 21 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken along line 21-21of FIG. 9.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown therein acombined bag and cart or golf club carrying device 20 forming oneembodiment of the invention. The device 21 includes a three-pointirons-grippingsupport or holder 22 for holding iron golf clubs or irons24 and a three-point woods-gripping support or holder 26 for holdingwood golf clubs or woods 28. A frame 30 has secured thereto a handle 32for pushing or pulling the cart, and also has secured thereto a stand 34which is foldable between an operative position as shown in FIG. 2 and aretracted or storage position as shown in FIG. 14. Wheels 36 are mountedon the frame 30 movably between running or operative positions as shownin FIG. 2 in which the wheels project rearwardly and downwardly from theframe 30 and retracted positions in which the wheels lie alongside ofand above the bottom of the frame 30. The device includes acompartmented, irons bag 38 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a duffel pocket 40 whichserves to cover the open front portion of the bag 38. Integral duffelpockets 42 and 44 are provided at the top rear of the frame 30, theduifel pocket 44 being mounted above a compartmented, woods bag 46. Thepockets 40, 42 and 44 preferably are composed of fabric material havinga vinyl impregnated exterior surface.

The three-point irons-gripping support 22 (FIG. 2) includes anintermediate, notched bar or rack 49 composed of a plurality of tubularblocks 50 having notches 51 formed therein which are mounted on atubular, square, crossrod 52 of the frame 30. The blocks 50 are composedof plastic material and may be formed by extruding a continuous tubularrod of the same cross section as the blocks 50, cutting the rod into thedesired lengths and forming the notches 51 therein. The support22 forthe golf irons also includes an injection molded, notched upper bar orrack 54 having notches 56 therein facing the notches 51 in the blocks50. The racks 49 and 54 preferably are composed of a polyallomer ofpropylene and ethylene so that the racks are somewhat soft or cushionywhile being strong and tough with a strong memory characteristic. Therack 49 has square holes therethrough to fit keyingly over the squareexterior of the crossrod 52. As illustrated best in FIGS. 6, 20 and 21,the rack 54 includes a molded, overhanging plastic cover plate portionfixed by cap screws 47 to a tubular,

square, crossrod 53 of the frame 30, and the rack 54 1 also has anotched, spacer bar portion 57 and compartment-forming, deflector plates58 projecting rearwardly therefrom, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG.13. Between the slots dividing the deflector plates 58, the rack 54 hassquarish openings 45 (FIG. 20) extending therealong keying the rack tothe crossrod 53.

The racks 49 and 54 are spaced apart from each other a distance greaterthan the length of each clubhead 61 of the irons 24 so that a golferusing the cart may merely stick the clubhead between and through theracks 49 and 54 from the right, as viewed in FIG. 2 and drop the club.The toe end of the clubhead 61 will engage a downwardly sloping inclinedramp liner 62, and slide down the liner to swing the iron 24 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to bring the shank ofthe iron 24 into firm engagement with both the rack 49 and the rack 54,and the iron will be firmly gripped at three points. At the toe end ofthe head 61, the liner 62 envelops the toe of the clubhead 61 slightlyto grip the head. The ramp liner and the bottoms of the notches 51 and56 firmly hold the iron 24 in the bag. Each iron 24 may be simply andeasily removed from the bag merely by lifting the iron slightly andpulling it out of the bag. The deflector plates 58 face downwardly andtoward the openings between the racks 49 and 54 so as to cam or guidethe clubheads 61 out of the compartments during removal of the clubsfrom the bag. Conversely, the deflector plates 58 act to deflect theclubheads downwardly into the compartments during insertion of the clubsinto the compartments. A deflector plate 65 (FIG. 12) formed on theblock 50 of putter compartments 67 serves to guide the projecting heelsof that type of putter around the rack 49 when the putter is beingpulled out of its compartment, the putter compartment being at theextreme left, as viewed in FIG. 9.

The notches 51 are all of the same depth and the notches 56 also are allof the same depth. However, to tailor the racks 49 and 54 and thecompartments to the varying clubhead Widths, the widths of the notchesand compartments for holding the wider clubheads are greater than theWidths of the notches and compartments for holding the irons having thenarrower clubheads. Also, the apices of the notches are displaced fromthe centers of the compartments to compensate for the asymmetry of thewider clubheads relative to the shafts. Numerals (not shown) may bepositioned at the top of the rack 54 to indicate the club which is to beheld in the compartment adjacent each numeral. Each liner 62 issupported by a flexible bottom or ramp portion 60 of the bag 38. Eachbottom portion 60 is of plastic sheet material, such as, for example, apolyvinyl material, and is heat sealed to and supported by a sheet 63 offlexible plastic material, which also is preferably composed .ofpolyvinyl material. The sheets 63 are folded into a series of U-shapedcompartments opening toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, the edges ofthe sheets 63 being heat sealed together. The sheets 63 (FIGS. 6 and 9)have holes through which the rod 52 extends to support the bag 38, withthe spacer blocks 50 separating double-thickness walls 68 of the pocketsor compartments formed by the sheets 63, and the upper ends of the walls68 are formed into loops 70 (FIG. 6) slipped over upwardly sloping pins72 extending rigidly from the tubular crossrod 53,'the loops 70 havingstrong, heat sealed, seam portions 74. The lower portions of the walls68 and the bottom portions 60, as viewed in FIG. 2, also are perforatedand are slipped over a tubular crossrod 76 and are spaced apart bylooped portions 78 of a sheet 80 of plastic material forming the bottomof the woods bag 46. The walls of the compartments are sufficientlystiff to keep the clubheads 61 effectively separated.

The bottom portions 60 (FIGS. 2 and 8) have tabs overlapping and heatsealed to the back walls of the U- shaped compartments formed by thesheets 63. The bottom portions 60 are U-shaped in transversecross-section and are of the same width but flex freely to accommodatethemselves to the different width clubheads of the irons. The top edgeportions of the bottom portions 60 are secured to the outsides of thewalls 68 just above the bottom offset edge portions 79 of the walls 68by strong, heat-sealed, seams 77. The bottom offset edge portions of thewalls 68 extending below the seams 77 define, with the upper portions ofthe bottom portions 60 overlapped thereby, receiving slots for receivingand holding frictionally the upper edge portions of the liners 62.

The angle of the ramp formed by the bottom portions 69 and the liners 62with the shafts of the irons 24 is sufliciently small that the clubheads61 slide freely down the ramp to positions which the irons are engagedfirmly at the toes of the clubheads and by the racks 49 and 54. However,this angle is sufficiently large that each iron may be freely liftedfrom the ramp and racks in removing the iron from the compartment inwhich it is stored. For best results this angle should not be greaterthan about 35 and should not be less than about 15, the particular anglechosen, of course, depending on the flexibility and frictionalcharacteristic of the liners 62. In one constructed embodiment of thecart, the ramp to clubshaft angle was 25, which was very effective tohold the irons against any rattling or displacement during rigorous useof the cart and clubs both in transportation by automobile and as acarrier for playing golf, and also permitted easy extraction of theirons from the compartments.

The duffel pocket 40 (FIG. 2) is secured to and suspended by a bar 82having downwardly projecting notches (not shown) designed to hook overbolts 84 (FIG. 6) to suspend the pocket 40 from the crossrod 52. Thepocket 46 has straps at the lower, outer corners thereof, the strapsbeing fixed at one end to the corner portions of the pocket and beingadapted to loop around the crossrod 76 and button back on the pocket 40to secure the lower end of the pocket to the crossrod 76, the pocket 40covering the open sides of the compartments of the bag 38. The pocket 40has a zippered opening 86 therein.

Clubheads 90 (FIG. 2) of the woods 28 are adapted to be inserted intothe compartmented bag 46 between tubular cushions 92 and 94 positionedon crossrods 96 and 98 of the frame 30, and the clubheads 90 are adaptedto rest on the flexible sheet forming the bottom of the bag 46, thesheet having holes 99 to permit dust, debris and water to droptherethrough. After the clubhead 91) has been inserted into the bag 46,the handle portion of the club is swung clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2,the shank is moved slightly laterally to move the shank of the club intoone of hooks (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4), which places the shaft of the clubunder a slight stress, and then the club is released, the shaft of theclub going into the hook 100. The hook 100, with the tubular cushions 92and 94, resiliently holds the club firmly in its storage position with athree-point suspension or gripping action. The hooks 100 are formed onan injection molded, plastic hook rack 102 secured to the top 104 of theframe 30, the rack 102 also being preferably formed from a strong,cushiony polyallomer or propylene and ethylene. Fastener members 106secure the rack 102 rigidly to the frame 30. Double thickness, polyvinylplastic sheet partition members 110 have holes through which extend thecrossrods 76, 96 and 98, as best shown in FIG. 6. The sheet 80 haslooped strap portions 112 looped around the cushions 92 to support thesheet 80 with the looped strap portions 78. Each club 28 may be removedmerely by flexing the cushions 92 and 94 to move the shaft of the clubout of the hook 100 of the hook rack 102 holding it, and pulling theclubhead 90 out of the bag 46.

The construction of the frame 30 is best shown in FIGS. 12 to 19, andthe frame 30 includes an angled, generally U-shaped, upright, tubularmember 124 having downwardly depending, angled arm portions 122 and topportion 104 extending between the arm portions. Gently curved cornerportions 125 join the arm portions 122 and the top portion 104 to formconvenient handle portions at the upper corners. The member incrosssection has a generally square exterior and has a round interior.The square exterior is ideally suited for rigidly fastening the member121) to other elements and other elements to the member 120. The roundinterior with the square exterior prevents dishing or partial collapseof the portions of the member which are bent to form the cornerportions. The upper portions of the arm portions 122 are bent toward therear of the cart to locate the top portion 104 and the corner portions125 substantially directly above the center of gravity of the combinedbag and cart and golf clubs therein for carrying the cart with the clubsby either of the corner portions 125. The lower ends of the arm portions122 are secured by cap screws to two side frame members 126 which areidentical in construction and are interchangeable, the arm portionsfitting into recessed or notched portions 128 and being secured rigidlyto the .side frame members 126 by the cap screws 1311. Cap screws 134and 136 secure the crossrods 52 and S3 to the member 121). The crossrod76 extends through holes 138 in the side frame members 126 and issecured thereto by expansion plugs (not shown). Caps 139 cover the endsof the crossrod 76. The crossrods 96 and 98 fit into holes 140 and 142(FIG. 15) in the side frame members 126 and are fixed to the side framemembers 126 by setscrews (not shown) to form a rigid framework with themembers 126. The setscrews hold the crossrods 96 and 98 against movementin the holes 140 and 142.

The wheels 36, when in their running positions as shown in FIG. 12, areindividually resiliently mounted by links and arms 152 and 154, whichform a four-bar linkage system (FIG. 12). The links 150 and arms 152 areeach secured pivotally together by a pivot member 156 at the end of thearm 152 and at an intermediate point on the link 150. One end of thelink 150 is secured by a pivot member 158 pivotally to the arm 154, andthe wheel 36 is secured to the other end of the link 1511 for rotationrelative thereto. Each of the two arms 152 (FIGS. 15 and 19) is securedby a pin 16!) to one of journal members 162 and to a torsion bar 164extending between the two journal members 162. The journal members 162project into and are journaled in the end portions of the tubularcrossrod 98. Each journal member has a slot 166 receiving the torsionbar 164 and keying the arm 152 to the torsion bar 164. The torsion bar164 limits endwise movement of the journal members 162 relative to thecrossrod 98 and also permits relative rotative movement between the twoarms 152 to pivotally mount the arms 152 on the longitudinal axis of thecrossrod 98.

The arms 154are keyed by pins 170 (FIGS. 15 and 17) to journal members172 and torsion bars or springs 174 projecting into and keyed to slots176 in the journal members 172. The springs 174 extend between centrallylocated spacers 178 (FIG. 18) and are held by the spacers 178 and by apin 1% against rotation relative to the tubular crossrod 96. The springs174 resist turning movement of the arms 154. When the arms 154 are inthe full-line position of the arm 154 of FIG. 12, the springs 174connected to that arm 154 are substantially relaxed. However, when thearm 154 is moved counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 12, from itsfull-line position to its broken-line position, the springs 174 to theleft of the spacers 178, as viewed in FIG. 15, are twisted asillustrated in FIG. 15, the springs 174 being untwisted in their normalpositions. Thus, when the wheels 36 are in their running or extendedpositions, the springs 174 are relaxed except for the slight weight ofthe cart thereon, and these wheel suspending mechanisms provide soft,individual spring supports for the cart. The pair of thin springs 174are provided rather than a single thicker and stronger spring to achievedurability and give a larger range of deflection with less stress thanpossible with the single thicker spring. The laminated construction alsoprovides greater durability and also permits forming holes for fastenersmuch more easily.

The springs 174 resist movement of the wheels upwardly and to the leftrelative to the frame 30, as viewed in FIG. 12, until the center of thepivot member 156 passes overcenter to the left of an imaginary straightline between the pivot member 158 and the pivot point of the upper endof the arm 152, after which the force of the springs, which are stressedat this time, urge the links 150 to the broken-line position of the link150 in FIG. 12. In this position, the wheel-mounting end of the link 150seats in a resilient bumper (FIGS. 12 and 15), the bumper 190 beingsecured in a tapered hole 192 in the side frame member 126 by a rivet194, which expands the bumper to fill the hole 192. The resilientbumpers 19!) give a cushioned stop to swinging movement of each link 15%and also, during storage and shipment of the device 26, give a cushionedsupport to the links and wheels 36 when these elements are moved axiallyof the wheels as, for example, by piling cartons carrying the devices 20one upon the other. The wheels 36 may be extended again by pushing thewheel rearwardly relative to the frame 319 until the pivot member 156goes overcenter in the other direction, after which the arm 154 urgesthe link 150 and the arm 152 in directions extending the wheel to theposition shown in FIG. 12.

The end or hub portion of each of the arms 152 and 154 that mounts thatarm pivotally on the side frame member 126 is located at the side of theside frame member, and the major portion of the length of each arm 152and 154 is offset from the hub portion of that arm so as to lie in theprojected area of the side frame member 126 as illustrated in FIG. 15.The links 150 have laterally offset cuter arm portions 201 to provideclearance between the outer arm portions 261 and the side frame members126 and the arms 152. By this construction, the wheels 36 are kept veryclose to the side frame members 126 and free movement of the four-barlinkage is achieved.

Each wheel 36 has a resilient tire 200 (FIG. 15) on a cast wheel member202 having a hub portion 264 provided with a bore 206 opening toward theframe 30. An integral axle and inner race member 208 and an outer racemember 210 along with ball bearings 212 and 214 mount the wheelrotatably on the member 208. The ball bearings 212 and 214 and themembers 228 and 210 form a radial and thrust bearing for the wheelmember 202. A sealing washer 216 and a split, spring retainer 218fitting in a groove in the hub 204 retain the outer race 210 in the bore206 and seal dirt out of the interior of the bearing structure. Themember 208 has a tapered shank portion 220 fitting into a tapered socket222 formed in the free end of the link 150 and is secured rigidlytherein by a capscrew 224 screwed into a tapped bore 226 formed in themember 208. The members 208 and 210 and the ball bearings 212 and 214provide a long bearing support for the wheel member 2G2 withsubstantially no play so that there is no wobble in the wheel 202.

The stand 34 (FIGS. 12-14) is a spring member and has sloping endportions 230 projecting sliclably into holes 232 formed in the sideframe members 126. The end portions 230 mount the stand 34 pivotally onthe side frame members 126, and parallel portions 236 when the stand 34is in its extended or operative position are urged by the resilience ofthe stand into semicylindrical grooves 240 in the side frame members126. However, to move the stand 34 to its folded or storage position thegolfer places his foot on the bottom portion of the stand 34 and raisesthe frame 30. This causes the sloping end portions 230 to cam theportions 236 out of the grooves 240,. and the stand is pivoted to itsretracted position. Shallow detenting grooves 248 are provided in theside frame members 126 to hold the stand in its folded position, andpermit easy movement of the stand back to its extended position.

The handle 32 (FIGS. 2, l2 and 13) is composed of a spring rod member260 having a looped handle portion 262 having a grip 264 mountedthereon, and has hooked ends 266 designed to project into holes in ahandle bracket 268 secured to the top of the frame member 122. A springwire member 270 is brazed at its upper end to the arms of the rod 260and has a hooked bottom portion 272 (FIG. 2) adapted to hook into eithera hole 274 or a hole 276 in the bracket 268. A sliding retainer ring 280may be slid downwardly on the rods 260 and 270 to lock the handlerigidly to the bracket 268. For shipping or storage, the handle 32 canbe detached completely from the bracket and the handle placed in one ofthe bags, if desired. For shipment in cartons, as apparent from FIGS. 12and 13, the space between the upper sloping portions of the arm portions122 and the tops of the side frame members 122 and wheels 36 providespace for receiving the wheels and lower portion of a combined bag andcart identical to the combined bag and cart and in an inverted position.This nesting permits two of the combined bag and carts to be transportedin a carton little larger than a carton for a single combined bag andcart so that space is much less than required in single packing.

For a golfer to pull the combined bag and cart 20 behind him, the handle32 is set in the broken-line position thereof shown in FIG. 2, whichpermits the grip 264 to be at a convenient low pulling position Whilekeeping the combined weight of the golf clubs and the cart substantiallycentered over the wheels 36. To push the cart, it is desirable to havethe grip 264 higher, and the handle 32 is set in the full-line positionthereof of FIG. 2, the weight of the clubs and cart again beingsubstantially centered over the wheels. Dotted line 290 (FIG. 12)illustrates the path of the center of each Wheel 36 against the springsuspension thereof, and during travel of the cart while loaded overbumps and the like, the center of the wheel travels along the lowerright hand portion of the line 290, which portion of the line 290 issubstan tially vertical when the cart is tilted to its travel position,the natural position of the cart relative to the vertical beingsubstantially the same whether the cart is pulled or pushed. Converginglower portions 281 of the handle portion 262 (FIG. 13) and parallel,spaced, upper gripping portions 283 of the member 260 form a clip for acigarette. The converging portions 281 guide the cigarette into aposition in which the cigarette is held between the gripping portions283.

The above-described golf club carrying device 20 serves to hold the golfclubs firmly in completely separated positions while permitting easy,effortless insertion and withdrawal of the clubs into and from thecompartments. The device 20 is very light in weight while being strongand durable in construction. It is also very compact and low, and hasindividual, soft, resilient suspension of both wheels 36 and both forpushing and pulling. It firmly holds golf clubs having shafts varying indiameter. The device may be easily carried.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is: 1. In a holder for golf clubs, a pair of elongatedrack members having notches spaced therealong for gripping the shank ofa golf club,

frame means mounting the rack members in oppositely facing, verticallyspaced, horizontally extending positions spaced from each othersufficiently to permit a lower end of a golf club to be moved freelytherebetween,

and an elongated sloping member extending horizontally in a positionbelow the rack members and facing generally in the same direction as theupper one of the rack members for camming the lower end of a golf clubpositioned between the rack members in said direction to move the clubinto engagement with the notches in the rack members.

2. In a holder for golf clubs,

a sloping support adapted to receive and cam an end of a head of a golfclub in one direction,

a first abutment member positioned above the support for limitingmovement of the golf club in said one direction,

means for holding the head of the golf club in a positron extendingoppositely to said one direction as the head of the golf club is movedinto engagement with the sloping support,

and a second abutment member positioned above the first abutment membera distance suflicient to permit said end of the golf club to be insertedbetween the abutment members and adapted to limit movement of the upperportion of the golf club in a direction opposite to said one directionand hold the golf club against the support and the first abutmentmember.

3. In a holder for golf clubs,

a plurality of bag-like pocket means arranged in a horizontal row forreceiving and supporting the heads of golf clubs and provided withsloping, bottom ramp portions facing in a predetermined direction forengaging the toe ends of the golf clubs,

a first elongated abutment member positioned above the ramp portions andfacing opposite to said direction for engaging shanks of the golf clubs,

and a second elongated abutment member positioned above the firstabutment member for engaging the shanks of the golf clubs and holdingthe golf clubs in engagement with the first abutment member and the rampportions of the pocket means.

4. In a golf club holding device,

ramp means facing partly upwardly and partly in one horizontaldirection,

a first abutment means having gripping means positioned above the rampmeans and facing oppositely to said horizontal direction,

a second abutment means having gripping means positioned above the firstabutment means and facing in said horizontal direction,

the ramp means serving to swing against the first and second abutmentmeans a golf club inserted between the first and second abutment meansand positioned on the ramp means and grip the club with the first andsecond abutment means,

and means for holding the head of the golf club against turning movementaway from a position extending oppositely to said horizontal directionas the club is moved into engagement with the abutment means and theramp means.

5. In a golf bag,

a tubular central frame member in the shape of an inverted U having armportions,

a pair of tubular side frame members secured to the ends of the centralframe member,

wheel means mounted on the side frame members,

a pair of tubular rods secured to the arm portions of the central framemember in positions spaced vertically from each other sufiiciently topermit the heads of golf clubs to be moved freely therebetween,

spacer means on the rods,

and flexible sheet means carried by the rods and formed into a group ofcompartments positioned between the side frame members in a row on oneside of the central frame member,

each of the compartments having a bottom ramp portion,

the rods being positioned to engage opposite sides of golf clubsextending upwardly from the group of compartments and to hold the clubswith the ramp portions at three vertically spaced points.

6. In a golf bag construction,

main frame means including a pair of side members,

a pair of rod means having the ends thereof secured to the side membersin positions spaced vertically from each other and also being spacedapart horizontally a distance approximately equal to the diameter of theshank of a golf club to be held therebetween,

a plurality of compartments of sheet material generally U-shaped inhorizontal cross section having holes at the upper end portions thereofthrough which the rod means extend to support the compartments and alsohaving inclined bottom portions defining ramps facing upwardly andtoward the lower one of the rod means,

and means on the rod means spacing the walls of the compartments apart.

7. The golf bag construction of claim 6 wherein at least the uppersurfaces of the bottoms of the compartments are composed of polyethylenematerial.

8. The golf bag construction of claim 6 including a storage bagpositioned so as to cover the lower portions of the open sides of thecompartments.

9. The golf bag construction of claim 6 including a plurality of membersmounted on the rod means and provided with notches.

10. In a golf club holding device,

frame means including a plurality of vertically spaced,

horizontally extending rods,

flexible sheet means formed to form a plurality of U- shaped pockets andhaving holes therethrough receiving the rods to support the sheet meanson the rods,

a plurality of notched spacer means positioned on the rods adjacentportions of the pockets to space the walls of the pockets apart,

and a plurality of bottom liners fitted into the pockets and coveringthe bottoms of the pockets,

the bottom liners extending in inclined positions to form ramps.

'11. In a golf cart,

a pair of side frame members,

a pair of horizontally spaced bottom rod members secured at the endsthereof to the side frame members,

a flexible bottom compartment member secured to the rod members forreceiving golf club heads,

an abutment bar positioned above one of the rod members at a distancesuflicient to permit the passage of a golf club head therebetween to thecompartment member,

and a plurality of spaced hooks positioned above the abutment bar inpositions opposing the abutment bar for holding the golf clubs inengagement with said one of the rod members and the abutment bar.

12. In a golf cart,

a frame,

a pair of rack members spaced apart vertically to permit a club head tobe moved therebetween and mounted on the rear of the frame,

a plurality of compartments extending downwardly from the rack membersand open at the space between the rack members,

and rearwardly and downwardly sloping deflector means adjacent the upperone of the rack members and extending downwardly from the upper one ofthe rack members for guiding club heads into and out of thecompartments.

13. In a golf cart,

a frame,

a pair of opposed rack members spaced apart vertically to permit a clubhead to be move-d therebetween,

the upper one of the rack members having rearwardly and downwardlysloping deflector plates at the bottom side thereof,

a plurality of compartments of flexible sheet material having portionsfitting around and held open by the deflector plates,

and a plurality of ramps positioned at the bottoms of the compartmentsfor urging golf clubs into engagement with the rack members.

14. In a golf cart,

a frame,

a pair of vertically spaced rack members between which an end of a golfclub may be passed,

and elongated ramp means positioned below the rack members, inclinedwith respect to the vertical and extending at an angle relative to ashaft of a golf club engaged by the rack members and the ramp means ofbetween about 15 and about 35.

15. The golf cart of claim 14 wherein said angle is about 25.

'16. In a holder for golf clubs,

a pair of vertically spaced, opposed, upper abutment members havinggripping portions facing horizontally in opposite directions andseparated sufficiently to permit a lower end of a golf club to be movedtherethrough,

a lower sloping abutment and supporting member facing generally in thesame direction as the upper one of the upper abutment members forcamming in said direction the head end of a golf club inserted betweenthe upper abutment members and lowered into engagement with thesupporting member in said direction to move the club into engagementwith both of the upper abutment members,

the lower sloping abutment and supporting member being of a lengthadapted to be engaged initially by the head end of the club while theclub is in a position not gripped by both of the upper abutment membersand allowing the lower end of the club to slide downwardly along thesupporting member to a position gripped by the upper abutment members,

and means for holding the club in a position in which the head of theclub extends in a direction opposite to the facing direction of thesupporting member and preventing turning movement of the head of theclub.

17. In a golf cart,

a frame,

an upper rack carried by the frame,

a lower rack carried by the frame below the upper rack and facingoppositely to the upper rack,

and a downwardly inclined ramp member of flexible sheet materialsubstantially U-shaped in transverse cross-section and facing generallyin the same direction as the upper rack and adapted to sequentially camand grip the toe portion of a club head of a golf club.

18. In a holder for golf clubs,

a pair of elongated rack members having shank-gripping portions spacedtherealong,

frame means mounting the rack members in oppositely facing, verticallyspaced, horizontally extending positions spaced from each othersufficiently to permit the head of a golf club to be moved freelytherebetween,

and an elongated slopping member extending horizontally in a positionbelow the rack members and facing generally in the same direction as theupper one of the rack members for engaging the toe of the head of a golfclub having a shank positioned between the rack members and camming thehead of the golf club in said direction to move the shank of the clubinto engagement with the shank-gripping portions of the rack members.

19. In a holder for golf clubs, a first abutment member facing in apredetermined direction,

a second abutment member facing opposite to the first abutment memberand positioned above the first abutment member sufiiciently to permitthe entire head gf a golf club to pass 'between the abutment memers,

bag-like pocket means depending from the first abutment member forreceiving the head of said golf club passed between the abutmentmembers,

and a hook facing in the same direction as the first abutment member,and positioned above the second abutment member for engaging the shaftportion of said golf club and holding said golf club against theabutment members with the head of said club enclosed by the pocketmeans.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,478,032 12/1923Hine 211-68 1,683,533 9/1928 Drost.

2,428,853 10/1947 Procter 150-1.5 X 2,435,893 2/1948 Mall 1501.52,480,597 8/1949 Nelson.

2,547,829 4/1951 Mills 1501.5 2,590,154 3/1952 Burns.

2,679,876 6/1954- Sehall l1.5 2,698,040 12/1954 Wilkens 150l.5 2,722,43111/1955 Victor -e 21l-60 X 2,753,189 7/1956 Conroy et a1. 211- X2,754,130 7/1956 Prooter 21 l-60 X 2,757,012 7/1956 Lefiler 280-47 X2,784,005 3/1957 Abgarian 28041 2,880,012 3/1959 Wilson --1.5 X2,883,207 4/1959 Reich 1501.5 X 2,985,462 5/1961 Stamp 1501.5 X3,014,732 12/1961 Schemenauer 2804l X JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, PrimaryExaminer.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, FRANKLIN T. GARRETT,

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiners.

C. W. HAEFELE, M. L. MINSK, Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A HOLDER FOR GOLF CLUBS, A PAIR OF ELONGATED RACK MEMBERS HAVINGNOTCHES SPACED THEREALONG FOR GRIPPING THE SHANK OF A GOLF CLUB, FRAMEMEANS MOUNTING THE RACK MEMBERS IN OPPOSITELY FACING, VERTICALLY SPACED,HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING POSITIONS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER SUFFICIENTLY TOPERMIT A LOWER END OF A GOLF CLUB TO BE MOVED FREELY THEREBETWEEN,